Early career researchers are about to transition - or have recently moved - to fully independent positions as investigators, faculty members, clinician scientists, or scientific team leaders in industry. Early career researchers focus on establishing themselves as the experts in their chosen research areas. See also: New and Early Stage Investigator Policies.
Early Research Career Development

You apply for Individual Awards:
International Research Fellowships
To provide collaborative research opportunities for qualified foreign scientists who hold a doctoral degree or its equivalent in the biomedical or behavioral sciences.
DetailsMentored Research Scientist Career Development Award
For support of a postdoctoral or early career research scientists committed to research, in need of both advanced research training and additional experience.
DetailsIndependent Research Scientist Development Award
For support of an early to mid-career scientists with research funding, in need of additional protected time committed to research.
DetailsAcademic Career Development Award
To support either a mentored or independent investigator to develop or enhance curricula, foster academic career development of promising young teacher-investigators, and to strengthen existing teaching programs.
DetailsMentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award
To provide the opportunity for promising clinician scientists with demonstrated aptitude to develop into independent investigators, or for faculty members to pursue research, and aid in filling the academic faculty gap in health profession's institutions.
DetailsTo provide support to outstanding newly trained basic or clinical investigators to develop their independent research skills through a two phase program; an initial mentored research experience, followed by a period of independent research.
DetailsMentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award
To provide support for the career development of clinically trained professionals who have made a commitment to patient-oriented research, and who have the potential to develop into productive, clinical investigators.
DetailsMentored Quantitative Research Career Development Award
To support the career development of investigators with quantitative scientific and engineering backgrounds outside of biology or medicine who have made a commitment to focus their research endeavors on basic or clinical biomedical research.
DetailsTo provide research support and protected time to a junior scientist with a faculty position at an LMIC institution leading to an independently funded research career.
DetailsEmerging Leaders Career Development Award
To advance the development of physician-scientists prepared to take an active role in addressing present and future challenges of a global biomedical research enterprise.
DetailsTo support both an initial mentored research experience (K99) followed by independent research (R00) for highly qualified, postdoctoral researchers, to secure an independent research position. Award recipients are expected to compete successfully for independent R01 support during the R00 phase.
DetailsNIH Director’s New Innovator Award
To support highly innovative research projects by early stage investigators in all areas of biomedical and behavioral research.
DetailsYou apply for Loan Repayment Programs:
Become an appointee on Institutional Awards:
For support to develop and/or implement a program as it relates to a category in one or more of the areas of education, information, training, technical assistance, coordination, or evaluation.
DetailsBecome an appointee on your Supervisor's grant:
Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (Admin Supp)
Administrative supplements to currently active NIH research grants to enhance the diversity of the research workforce.
DetailsAdministrative supplements to currently active NIH research grants to support individuals with high potential to re-enter an active research career after a qualifying interruption for family or other responsibilities.
Details